TO INSPIRE & TO ACT – WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER WORLD

Fadya NAZIRKHAN

Fadya NAZIRKHAN has 55 articles published.

The Village by CA – this mysterious name immediately arouses curiosity. These are “Villages” created by Crédit Agricole (CA), enabling startups, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as large groups to join forces with the common objective of cooperating to innovate and to boost the regional economy. In Paris, the “Village” is growing up on the Boétie Street in the very heart of the financial centre of Paris. It has 400 “inhabitants”, 90 startups and 40 partner companies.

The Village by CA nestled in the French capital acts mainly as an incubator for startups. Founded in 2014, it has enabled these young companies to attain a turnover of € 35 million. Among them are Early Birds or Sharepay which have been ranked among the top 100 startups in which it is strongly advised to invest, according to the magazine Challenge.

The Village allows us to push the limits and penetrate areas we did not want to know before

The “Village” also includes partners such as Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett Packard, Sanofi, Sodexo and Engie. A designated “Village Representative” meets the startups once or twice a week. However, not everyone receives financial support.

Source: Le Village by CA

Within the “Village”, pure synergy is at work. The resources and knowledge of some are shared with others. It is a “horizontal” business model where everyone can contribute to development process. Annually, the Village by CA of Paris organizes about 800 events: product launches, press conferences, every event finds its place.

A startup remains in the “Village” for an average of 23 months. Once “weaned”, companies stay in touch through alumni networks. The demand for startups to integrate these “Villages” is high: more than 1,000 applications have been registered within eighteen months.

Regions such as Rouen and Besançon await their first “Villages” in early 2017. The “inhabitants” of the various “Villages” can meet, solicit the support of each other and impart their know-how. The Village by CA equally has its premises in 25 major cities around the world, such as New York, London, Moscow and Shanghai. Each startup can thus evolve into an ecosystem that creates value and innovation.

Carpet cleaners, lawn mowers or camping gears are items that we may not need every day. So why buy them? Created as a very efficient alternative to buying, the Library of Things is an innovative friendly space where one can hire a plethora of items at very low cost. This new movement founded on collaborative economy is witnessing an upsurge across diverse communities around the world.

Source: pexels.com

More and more people are believing in a future of sharing and borrowing. The Libraries of Things are spaces that have emerged to promote efficiency as well as knit solidarity in communities. People are offered a large spectrum of items that they can borrow at very low prices. These spaces are becoming the focal points for mutual help where individuals may equally share their knowledge about a variety of topics.

The Libraries of Things are mushrooming across countries like the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), Germany, Netherlands or Canada. All share the same vision: give people access to things they need once in a while so they can save money. These libraries are gradually taking the form of a genuine global network.

In London, it is an old container that has been converted into a Library of Things space after several pop-up stores were set up on a trial basis. Its creation was made possible through crowdfunding and donations. The London Library of Things witnessed a surge in the number of members keen to join this new business model.

Here, people can hire power tools to kitchenware after checking availability online and creating an account for free. Acquiring an item has never been so easy and cheap. The co-founder of the London Library of Things, Bex Trevalyan, is categorical about this form of business model:

Everyone should be able to access useful and life enhancing things when we need them

Credit: spheric.ro

To be efficient and to remain loyal to the needs of the community, the team responds to feedback from customers. As such, it expanded from simply offering items for hire to offering services. If you ever need an in-house DJ, event promotion or workshop planning, you should consider knocking on the door of the London Library of Things. Another thriving team is the Share Library of Things located in Frome, England. It shares the same objectives as its counterpart in London.

In the US as well as in Germany, the Library of Things is more diversified. Tools and kitchen libraries are among the spaces that are most appreciated and sought after. Members can access to a plethora of tools and appliances without having to spend much. Other Libraries of Things offer recreational kits, instruments for science and technology or music. Unusual ones even lend stuff like neck ties or toys. In Toronto, The Sharing Depot, which is the first Library of Things in Canada, is proving to be very successful. It quickly expanded to four locations. Members can borrow camping equipment as well as sports equipment as well as party supplies.

Nevertheless, there are certain criteria to be respected to be able to share your products and items. Generally, teams of the libraries proceed with some verification to make sure that the items are of good quality and can be used safely, especially regarding electrical items.

In the same breath, this sharing and borrowing concept is furthermore strengthening the feeling of brotherhood in all communities. This type of collaborative economy is seeing an unprecedented and according to experts, an “irreversible” trend. It is foreseen that such a trend will lead to an efficient use of resources and thus, healthy economies.

Hand washing with soap may seem as a common simple everyday act. Yet, it remains one of the most neglected life-saving practices in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. Every year, more than 3 million children die from communicable diseases that can be prevented by improving hygiene and access to soap. The recycling of soaps, especially hotel soaps, has been hence launched as a worldwide project to save lives.

The recycling project was launched by Derreck Kayongo, a refugee born in Uganda and who travelled to the United States where he finally settled. On the first day of his stay at a hotel, he was surprised to notice that a wide array of various types of soaps was offered per guest. He was even more shocked when he noticed that these soaps were replaced every day. He wondered what happened to these partially used soaps and understood that they were simply thrown away. As a matter of fact, more than 2 million bars of soap are thrown away daily in the American hotels.

Having been a refugee in Kenya and having survived harsh experiences as part of a poor community not having access to a single bar of soap triggered in him a feeling of revolt against such blatant waste. With his wife, Derreck Kayonga created the Global Soap Project; it became a life-changing and life-saving initiative for millions of children in poor regions. The project consists of bridging hotels and vulnerable people across the world. The founder stated that:

So many people suffer from illnesses just because they cannot wash their hands with soap

source: pexels.com

Hotels like Hilton and Intercontinental have allied forces with Global Soap Project. In total, more than 500 hotels in the United States have joined the programme. Hotel staff collects the partially used soaps left in rooms and they are subsequently sent to treatment plants where they are sorted out, treated, sterilized and melted again. The only cost that hotels have to incur is transport from the establishment to the treatment plant.

The recycled soaps come out as new ones and dispatched to Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Africa, Asia and Latin America. They are distributed freely during medical visits or during sensitization campaigns.

In the light of its success, Global Soap Project has expanded its activities to Europe where hotels have shown keenness to ally forces with the organization to save lives. Up to now, more than 2 millions bars of soap have been distributed over 32 countries.

The other large scale recycler of hotel soaps is Clean the World Foundation. The latter distributes hygiene products to people in the United States and developing countries through collaboration with NGOs. The foundation shares the same vision as Global Soap Project: “turning trash into treasure”. The recycling of soap largely reduces solid waste as well. Apart from soap, the foundation encourages hotels to recycle the plastic products as well. Lately, Clean the World Foundation and Global Soap Project have been working in close collaboration to maximize their impact.

B’eeau Lac is a new project that took birth in the department of Savoy in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. Renowned as a resort for water activities, the Bourget Lake- locally known as the Grey lake- will now has a new facet. Within the next four years, water from the Bourget Lake will equally be used for heating and cooling buildings as well as enterprises in the region.

Bourget Lake. Source: wikimedia.org

The idea to use fresh water for cooling and heating purposes is not new. Hydrothermal cooling, also known as Lake Source cooling or Seawater air conditioning, as well as geothermal heating systems have already been adopted in countries like Canada. Yet, for the department of Savoy, it is an innovative step to go green. The B’eeau (Bourget Environnement Energie Amenagement Urbanisme or Bourget Environment Energy Development Town Planning in English) has been designed following surveys regarding the possibilities of exploiting renewable energy in the region. The project was inspired from a similar one having already been implemented in Geneva.

Bourget Lake spans over an area of 44 km2 while its average depth is around 85m. It is the biggest natural lake of glacial origin in France. Diverse sports activities as well as fishing are carried out in its waters.

Once the B’eeau Lac project will be completed, it will become the pioneer in France, whereby hydrothermal energy drawn from lake water is being used

Source: www.wavepattaya.com

The project will be implemented by Metropole Savoie and Savoie Technolac. The B’eeau Lac project consists of pumping the waters of the lake from a depth of 35 metres at a stable temperature of 6 degrees Celsius. This system allows the production of industrial refrigeration and refreshing as well as heating in low temperature buildings.

The water is then returned to Bourget Lake. The advantages of this system are numerous: it does not require the use of land, it does not emit CO2, and it avoids the usual health risks associated with conventional cold production. Finally, it is a tremendous asset in terms of spatial planning and attractiveness to companies wishing to settle in the region.

The demand for cold production is increasing more and more in certain sectors in the region, such as plastics processing, food processing, and pharmaceutical production as well as in the IT. The innovative mode of heating and cooling will definitely represent a cut in expenditures for companies and public bodies as well. Businesses have been keen to use hydrothermal cooling and heating as they have also been able to free space previously occupied by cooling/heating units.

Winter is approaching Europe at a fast pace. The Aspirant Dunand swimming pool, located at a stone’s throw from the Catacombs of Paris, has been innovated in a totally ecological way. As such, sewer water that runs underneath the pool is now used to heat the pool as well as the showers.

Aspirant Dunand swimming pool. Source: nouvellesdeparis.com

Heating a municipal swimming pool does not only has high cost implications but also entails great energy consumption. Until now, the Aspirant Dunand pool in the 14th arrondissement of Paris was being heated exclusively with electricity, soaring consumption to 1,310 megawatt hours (MWh) per year. The department in charge of this public infrastructure decided that it would be wise and innovative to invest in a cheaper and ecological heating system for the 25-meter-long pool and showers.

After several months of testing, the project was finalized and executed in October 2016. This new system reduced the pool’s electricity consumption by 50%. It is a first in Paris.

The idea of using sewage water is ingenious because the temperature of this water varies between 13 and 20 degrees throughout the year, regardless of seasons. A system of heat exchangers allows the waste water to heat the water of the pool and showers without any direct contact.

The heat is captured by metal plates installed in the sewers meandering under the pool. The desired temperature is then distributed in the pool and showers via heat pumps. The system – known as “Blue Degrees” – was created and installed by Suez Eau France. The company already has a dozen similar projects on its account.

Paris has set itself the objective of encouraging swimming pools to reduce their energy consumption by 20% within the next four years

City Hall of Paris. Source: hotel-design-secret-de-paris.com

This project is part of the sustainable development plan of Paris to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This project also aims at promoting renewable energies so that the Parisian administration can rely on up to 30% of green energy by 2020.

The sewage network extending over 2,400 kilometers should be regarded as having a good potential for other uses. It presents itself as an attractive heating alternative for the 39 other swimming pools spread across Paris. Apart from the pools, 25 diverse sites have already engaged themselves into projects based on renewable energy. For example, the city hall of Paris is itself already being heated thanks to the sewage network since 2015.

This international agreement comes as a hallmark for the protection of marine life. Twenty four countries have united to declare more than 1.5 million km2 of the Ross Sea in Antarctica- equally referred to as the Polar Garden of Eden- as the world’s largest protected marine zone. The decision, made public on 28 October 2016, is acclaimed worldwide by environmentalists.

Ross Sea. Source: sciencemediacentre.co.nz

The area earmarked approximately represents the total surface area of France and Spain combined. Industrial fishing which has been having disastrous impacts not only in the region itself but on other seas as well, will be completely banned there. This decision is the fruit of the unanimous votes of delegates at the last annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living (CCAML) in Australia. This outcome is the result of five years of negotiation, constant scientific and policy reviews as well as principled diplomacy on the subject.

The Ross Sea is known as one of the greatest wilderness regions on our planet. It is home to more than half of the population of the Ross Sea Orca which is a killer whale. The area is also the habitat of Adelie and emperor penguins, as well as that of benthic and mid-water species. Seven species of fish are unique to the area.

According to the UN environment Chief Erik Solheim, it is crucial that the Ross Sea be safeguarded as a heritage for the future generations. US scientist David Ainley, who was among the first environmentalists to actively advocate for the protection of this marine zone fourteen years ago, qualifies the Ross Sea as one of the most pristine marine ecosystems left on Earth.

It has much more value as an intact marine ecosystem than as a fishing ground

Source: thesun.co.uk

The decision to convert the Polar Garden of Eden into a protected zone will help in safeguarding the incredible biodiversity of the marine life in the area that has remained abundant since thousands of years. Industrial overfishing, and thus a disruption of the marine ecosystem, was seen as a threat and needed to be forbidden. A change in the food chain as well as the degradation of the territory itself will have the same damaging effects as those recorded elsewhere, like toxic algal blooms or oxygen-deprived dead zones.

The protection of the Ross Sea will help stabilize the number of krill which is the staple food for a plethora of species like whales and seals, and that thrive in the region. Upwelling of nutrients in from deep waters are carried by currents to seas around the world, thus providing food to marine species over the planet.

The Polar Garden of Eden furthermore serves as a live laboratory for scientists. The latter started exploring the site some 170 years ago while continuous data records date back over 50 years. The data available in the zone helps scientists have reliable conclusions and a better understanding of ecological and environmental changes, especially regarding climate.

France will soon install floating wind turbines in the Mediterranean Sea. In a press release dated 3 November 2016, Ségolène Royal, Minister of Environment, stated that the services of the enterprises EDF Energies Nouvelles (EN) and the coalition of Engie / EDPR / CDC were selected for this project.

source: france-energies-marines.org

This call for project forms part of the Investment for the future (Investissements de l’avenir), aiming at deploying floating wind farms as pilot projects in four favorable areas in the Mediterranean Sea and Britanny. The Faraman zone in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Leucate in the Aude department have been earmarked for the setup of these farms. At Faraman, the project “Provence Grand Large” is to be monitored by EDF EN. Three floating wind turbines will be supplied by the Siemens company while the floating structures will be provided by SBM and the IFP IN Institute.

At Leucate, the project to be realized is ‘The floating wind turbines of the Lion Gulf”. It is the consortium of Engie, the Caisse des dépôts and the Portuguese EDP Renewables that will ensure implementation of the project. Four floating wind turbines will be supplied by General Electric while the semi-submersible floating structures will be from Eiffage Metal. Both projects are expected to provide a unitary capacity of 5 megawatts (MW) minimum.

Last July, two other companies – the Eolmed- Quadran consortium, and Eolfi and CGN Europe Energy- were selected as part of the same project. Both candidates will carry out the setup of the floating wind farms in Gruissan in the Mediterranean area and in the area of Groix in Brittany. These turbines will generate 6 to12 MW.

The technology “WindFloat“, developed by Principle Power in Aix-en-Provence, will be adopted for the projects. Installed off the coast of Portugal five years ago, the “WindFloat” prototype has already won its spurs. Hence, the prototype “WindFloat” is now going through the construction stage. According to the holding that has tested it, the prototype has exceeded expectations:

Unlike conventional wind turbines mounted in the sea, floating wind turbines- otherwise known as ‘offshore wind turbines’- can be installed in deeper waters than usual. While a traditional wind turbine is erected over a fixed foundation, the innovative floating foundation, on its side, is stabilized by cables to the seabed.

The installation of floating wind turbines is also much easier. They can be assembled directly in port areas, limiting the offshore work that are very costly. Ditto for maintenance and disassembling.

Far off the coast, wind turbines also have less visual impact unlike their conventional counterparts which are often criticized as being visual monstrosities. Another advantage is that these wind turbines- than can be installed at a depth of up to 200 meters – will be able to capture even more powerful winds to produce more green electricity.

Environmental awareness is permeating football. During a match, an attacker may run between 10 to 11 km while a defender may race between 10 to 12.5 km. Certain countries, such as Brazil and Nigeria, have embraced this fact as an opportunity to use the energy of football players to lighten up football pitches in a completely ecological manner.

Credit: Telegraph

The first country to adopt this innovative technology is Brazil. Two years ago, Mineira, a favela in Rio de Janeiro, gifted itself a unique football pitch-one of its kind. Designed with artificial turf by the British startup Pavegen, the football ground can convert energy generated by the movement of players into electricity. Subsequently, the electricity is used to illuminate the football pitch after dark. The inauguration of this revolutionary football ground even earned the presence of the king of football himself- Pele.

Pavegen, that qualifies itself as a pioneer in clean technology, designed the artificial turf with about 200 plates. The latter are made up from 80% of recycled materials, derived mainly from old tires from trucks. The kinetic energy produced by the movements of the players is then transformed into electricity. This energy can subsequently power up to six flood lights placed around the football field.

In 2015, it was in Lagos in Nigeria that the oil group Shell inaugurated the first football ground of Africa whose lightening system is similar to that of the stadium of Rio de Janeiro. Lagos, which is the most populous of Africa, is unfortunately home to many neglected public infrastructures. This project was launched as part of the Shell #makethefuture program to bring about innovative ideas pertaining to energy while taking care to supply communities in need with electricity at the same time. The oil company has partnered with Pavegen for this project.

To convert the football pitch in Lagos, the placement of 90 electric slabs underneath the lawn were required. These slabs can transform the kinetic energy of moving players into electricity that may be used immediately or stored in batteries for future use.

Each step on a single slab generates between 4 to 7 watts of electricity

In Lagos, the system can power six LED floodlights in the stadium. To become even greener, the stadium furthermore installed solar panels to generate electricity that is used for other purposes in the premises.

Credit: posibl.com

Pavegen, meanwhile, is already making additional long term plans. Presently, only 25% of the African continent has direct access to electricity. Electricity supply based on piezoelectric energy may eventually provide electricity to remote and forsaken residential areas. Already, several cities have adopted the green energy of Pavegen. One can find them in nightclubs or on the floor at Terminal 3 in the airport of Heathrow.

The London Olympic Games as well as the Paris Marathon held in 2013 have allowed the testing of this ingenious technology. To make it more accessible, Pavegen is deepening its researches in view of lowering costs implications.

This is the road of the future. Photovoltaic and smart, it can capture solar energy and produce electricity directly. This road can furthermore provide information on traffic conditions and on the state of road itself. And it is France which has become the world pioneer by launching the site for the construction of the very first photovoltaic road in Orne in the department of Normandy.

Credit: Joachim Bertrand/ Colas

The construction works began on 25 October 2016 and the first section will extend over one kilometer. These works are expected to be completed in December. The sum of €5 million has been earmarked for this purpose. The French government plans to overlay various roads- measuring 1,000 kilometers in total– with solar panels. Once completed, they are estimated to provide electricity to 5 million French or in other words, to 8% of the French population.

The project, totally Made in France, is being accomplished following extensive research carried out for five years by l’Institut national de l’énergie solaire (National Institute of Solar Energy) (INES) and Colas- a subsidiary company of Bouygues. Tests were conducted in Chambéry and Grenoble with a steady stream of one million vehicles to measure the functionality and sustainability of these panels. According Colas, not a single plate was moved or was damaged. At the inauguration ceremony, Ségolène Royal, Minister of Ecology, spoke with great pride and enthusiasm:

It’s utopia becoming reality

The solar road project is based on WattWay technology developed by Colas-one of the world leaders in transport infrastructure. The panels were manufactured in a local company in Orne. This first section of the road that will be 2m wide is expected to generate some 17,963 kWh of energy on a daily basis. This can provide an entire town of 5,000 inhabitants with public lighting. WattWay confirms that panels spreading over an area of 20m2 may supply a complete household with green energy easily.

Credit: ecowatch

The WattWay innovative technology is simple and requires no heavy work. Existing roads merely need to be covered with the solar panels– which are in fact slabs- without the need for any additional engineering work. These slabs were created so that vehicles, including trucks, can pass along without causing any damage.

The panels are made up of photovoltaic cells carefully wrapped in several layers to make the slabs exceptionally resistant. Thin sheets of polycrystalline silicon, on their side, help to capture solar energy which is then converted into electricity. According to Colas, these slabs can last up to 20 years and are adaptable to any kind of road worldwide.

The photovoltaic road is a clever means to generate clean and renewable energy in the long term. The idea of transforming the existing roads in this way is ingenious because, according to studies, roads are occupied by vehicles for only 10% of time and they are constantly facing the sky and the sun.

This photovoltaic road is not only green but also intelligent. As soon as it will produce electricity, it will send data about the traffic and the state of the road itself through a massive network of integrated sensors. The company is already considering designing an induction system allowing the photovoltaic roads to recharge electric vehicles.

The decision was not easy. In a tug of war between financial gains and ecological commitment, some paper companies have eventually pledged to cease business in certain parts of the world, like Indonesia, to help reduce deforestation and safeguard peatlands.

source: pexels.com

One of the companies, Unlisted Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) pledged to use supplies from its own plantations and has started working in close collaboration with environmental groups to protect peatlands and expand conservation areas. Like APRIL, some other paper firms have been vehemently criticized by environmental NGOs over years for remaining passive in regards to the protection of peatlands and rainforests.

Indonesia is home to the biggest tropical peatland in the world. These peat forests-consisting of partially decayed vegetation having accumulated over thousands and thousands of years- are the key ecosystem for Indonesia and act like an immense carbon sink, storing up to 60 billion metric tons. They are furthermore the habitat of endangered species like tigers and orangutans as well as various freshwater fish.

Once these lands are cleared to make place for plantations like palm and paper, the carbon-rich peat may turn into virtual bombs while spiking into fire. This is why Indonesia is one of the leading emitters of greenhouse gas across the world. Peat and forest fires have also been resulting in thousands of deaths yearly in the South of Asia, while the degradation of peatlands have given way to floods as they were acting like sponges, soaking up water.

The conservation of its peatlands is thus crucial to maintain not only the ecological health of Mother Earth itself, but also to allow the local inhabitants of these regions live a decent and healthy life

Paper companies like APRIL has set the example by conserving around 320,000 hectares of natural forest in Indonesia out of the 480,000 that it possesses and developed up to now for plantations for the paper industry. The company has adopted sustainability policies to protect wildlife and combat climate change.

source: pexels.com

The giant Asia Pulp and Paper Group (APP), which prides itself in being one of the leading paper mills worldwide, has also decided to shut down business with the objective to protect rainforests and peatlands and prevent all the catastrophe that their destruction entails. The company devised a meticulous programme called the Peatland best Practice Management Programme in a bid to curb the harm being done. APP Group has thus decided to retract from vulnerable zones.

This decision was not an easy one as active plantations are a good source of financial benefits for the business. APP nevertheless weighed the conservation of the peatlands as heavier than any amount of money. The company has started mapping the peatlands as the country’s database is outdated. A rehabilitation plan has been meticulously crafted- trees will be planted, dams will be built while taking into account the wishes of the local inhabitants on whom the exploitation of peatlands has had long lasting impacts.